Drive or Fly: Troy, AL to Birmingham, AL?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for MGM–BHM. At 138 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 43m

Distance

138.3 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 28m

15m in the air

Air Distance

128 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Troy, AL → MGM 63m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BHM → Birmingham, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Troy, AL MGM — Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) Airport 42 mi, ~63m drive

Birmingham, AL BHM — Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MGM and BHM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 11m

1h 30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0115

Door-to-Door Timeline

Troy, AL → Montgomery Intermodal Center (MRY6) 66m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 90m

Arrival 10m

Birmingham Intermodal Facility (BHM6) → Birmingham, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From MRY6 — Montgomery Intermodal Center 44 mi, ~66m drive

To BHM6 — Birmingham Intermodal Facility 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 43m	3h 28m	3h 11m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$9
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	33 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 21, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Troy, AL to Birmingham, AL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.